William Bernhardt - Capitol Murder

“I work at home,” Charles explained, still lisping.

Just as well, Loving thought. “And you really drink blood?”

“With gusto. The commingling of bloodlines is the ultimate gratification, the sharing of life force. There is no greater stimulation than that derived from walking the narrow tightrope between pleasure and pain. Just thinking about it gets me-”

“Thanks for sharin’,” Loving said, cutting him off. “But I notice all your pals are gatherin’.” The rest of the Circle was congregating in the center of the room, hands joined, facing one another.

“Time for the Ceremony,” Morticia explained.

“And that is…?”

“You’ll see.”

“I can participate?”

“Sure. Open to all comers.”

And why was that? Did visitors become the human sacrifice? Loving was willing to do a great deal for Ben, but becoming a walking, talking blood bag for a coven of vampires was pushing it.

They finished their meals, which all three agreed were fabulous. Glancy assured Ben that the dinner was going on his running tab, which was a considerable relief, and Glancy was in the process of talking them into dessert (“The crème brûlée is like ambrosia in a baking dish, but I prefer the cheese plate, being a devoted turophile”) when they were visited by Brad Tidwell, the junior senator from Oklahoma.

Tidwell seemed genuinely surprised to see Glancy, even though Ben thought it was virtually impossible that anyone could’ve spotted them in this alcove if he hadn’t already known they were there. “Glad to see you were able to get out for a night, Todd. You know, we’re all rooting for you.”

“Oh, I rather doubt everyone is,” Glancy said, dabbing his mouth with a napkin. “But thank you.”

“I meant everyone from Oklahoma,” Tidwell corrected. “We Sooners stand by our own.”

“About that,” Glancy said. “I did notice that your name is on the prosecution’s witness list.”

“Doesn’t that beat all? I don’t know what the deal is.”

“I don’t, either,” Ben added. “And I interviewed you as soon as I saw the list.”

“I guess it’s because I’m on that committee with you, Todd. Did you know I have the best attendance record of anyone in the entire group?”

“Is that a fact,” Glancy said quietly.

Tidwell slapped his hand on Glancy’s shoulder. “I do wish you’d think about reconsidering your position on that Alaska bill, though. I know Melanfield’s an ass, but I think he’s right about this one.”

“It’s our last untouched wilderness area, Brad.”

“I know, but we’ve got to get ourselves out of the Middle East. It would be the best thing for the country.” He hesitated just the slightest second. “I think it would be the best thing for you, too.”

Glancy turned his head slowly. For a long, protracted moment, the two men stared into each other’s eyes.

“I can’t do that, Brad. The price is too high.”

Tidwell nodded slowly. “I’m sorry to hear that, Todd. I really am.”

Glancy did not reply.

“But no hard feelings, right?” Tidwell outstretched his hand. “You just remember that, no matter what happens, I’m behind you all the way, okay? You can count on the delegation from Oklahoma.” He shook Glancy’s hand vigorously, then strolled away.

Christina stared at them both, lips parted. “Did what I think just happened just happen?”

Glancy turned to her. “Now I understand why you’re such a good partner for my friend Ben. You get the subtext.”

“Subtext?” Ben said, turning from one to the other. “What are you two talking about?”

“Opportunity,” Glancy said. “I think I know now how that will be established.”

“And that handshake?” Ben asked. “That promise of support. That wasn’t a peace offering?”

Glancy shook his head gravely. “The Judas kiss.”

Not that Loving was looking for trouble. He really wasn’t. But when you’re hanging with vampires, and someone announces that the Ceremony is about to begin, you form certain expectations. Visions of kidnapped babies being drained. Vestal virgins thrown to the flames. Lucifer the Goat conjured from the netherworld.

Anything but this. Because this was nothing but a glorified AA meeting where all the attendees have the same bad fashion sense.

“I tried to talk to my parents,” a young man in a dark sweater said. “But they wouldn’t listen. They didn’t understand. They said-get this-‘Have you ever tried not being a vampire?’”

Several sympathetic hands were laid upon his shoulder.

“We feel your pain,” the others chanted together.

More likely they cause his pain, Loving thought. With their teeth.

Daily whispered into Loving’s ear. “How much more of this are we going to endure? I’ve talked to everyone in the room. None of them knows a Beatrice.”

“Did you learn anythin’ about the girls that disappear? The ones the Sire’s minions select for the Inner Circle?”

“No one seems to know much about that.”

Loving grunted. He was equally stymied. He hated to give up on a promising lead, but this was getting them nowhere. “Amber’s last words before she fell unconscious-”

“She was out of her head. Probably didn’t know what she was saying.”

Another member of the Circle was speaking. “And then she threw the engagement ring back at me, screaming, ‘You said you were going to be a lawyer!’ And I told her, ‘I can still be a lawyer, honey. I’ll just have to stick to night court.’”

“Okay, let’s get outta here.” Loving headed out, but to his surprise Morticia left the group and ran in front of him just as he passed through the outer door, blocking his way.

“You can’t just leave. I told you. We’re destined to be together.” She grabbed him by the collar and pulled him close. “Just let me take a little nip. You won’t be disappointed. I promise you.” Once again she was all over him, her heaving bosom pressed against his ample chest. “It would be an experience you’d never forget.”

“That I don’t doubt. But-”

“Give it up, you gorgeous infidel.” All at once, she lurched forward, placed her acrylic teeth against his neck, and bit down hard.

Loving pulled away. “Stop that!”

“Why? Afraid you might like it?” She wiped her mouth dry. “You shouldn’t withdraw prematurely. Haven’t you heard? Women don’t like that.”

“Be seein’ you.” Loving started for the door, tugging Daily as he went.

“You know you want it. Deep down,” Morticia called after him. “You’ll come back. Wait and see. I’ll still be here. When you’re ready.”

Loving ran down the front steps and breathed in the night air. Strong with carbon monoxide, but refreshing, just the same. It was a relief to be outside, away from that pack of nutcases.

Vampires. Jeez Louise. What next? It can’t possibly get any weirder than that…

A voice emerged from the darkness. “Freeze, or I’ll stake you where you stand, you unholy beasts.”

Loving and Daily both pivoted at once. There was a woman standing behind them, emerging from the shadows of a side alley. She was young, slender but sturdy. She had long blond hair and a tanned complexion. Her eyes were fixed intently upon her targets.

She was holding a crossbow. Not a gun. A crossbow.

“Now you’re going to do exactly what I say,” she said, moving forward but never blinking, never moving her finger from the trigger. “And if either of you so much as takes a baby step toward me, you’ll get a bolt through your undead heart.”

B en was not surprised when the prosecution called Brad Tidwell, the junior senator from Oklahoma. Padolino made a great show of explaining in open court that Tidwell was a “hostile witness,” and was appearing only because he had been subpoenaed-probably a condition of his agreement to testify. Tidwell opened with several stories of how he had once admired Senator Glancy and how helpful the man was during his early days in the Senate, despite the fact that they were from opposite parties. Together, he and Padolino did everything imaginable to dispel the idea that this testimony had partisan motivations.